WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about a HIDA scan? A hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan is a test to show how your liver and gallbladder are working. This test is also called cholescintigraphy. How do I prepare for a HIDA scan? Do not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before the test. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take. You may need to stop taking certain medicines before the test. What will happen during a HIDA scan? A radioactive substance called a tracer will be injected into a vein, usually in your hand or arm. A healthcare provider will position a camera above your stomach and take pictures every 5 to 15 minutes for 1 to 2 hours. After these pictures are taken, you may be given a medicine that will empty your gallbladder. More pictures will be taken as your gallbladder empties. More scans may be taken within 24 hours after you have received the tracer. Your healthcare provider will tell you when to return if more scans are needed. What will happen after a HIDA scan? You may have abdominal discomfort or nausea for a few minutes if you were given medicine to empty your gallbladder. You will need to drink plenty of liquids after this test. This will help flush the tracer out of your body. Ask your healthcare provider how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you. What are the risks of a HIDA scan? The area where the tracer was injected could become red, swollen, or painful. |